CBN Reveals Baseball Power Brokers

The most influential people in the country’s baseball scene have been revealed by the Canadian Baseball Network.

The CBN recently released their list of the nation’s top power brokers in the sport and a number of honourees have ties to Alberta and Saskatchewan.

A Flame-Throwing Family

The family’s name is synonymous with baseball in Southern Alberta.

Shaye McTavish is doing his best to carry on the legacy that his dad, Les, and other family members have had on the game around Vauxhall and Lethbridge.

Hall for Hubs

Todd Hubka is the ultimate team guy.

He’s never afraid to boast about the players on his current Prairie Baseball Academy roster, looking ahead to his upcoming recruiting class, or beam about how proud he is of the hundreds of alumni players that have come through the program.

Hubka isn’t a big fan of talking about himself, which was put to the test when he was inducted to the PBA Hall of Fame.

Making the List

Bob Elliott has released his list of the most influential Canadians in baseball, and the Western Canadian Baseball League (WCBL) makes a number of appearances on the esteemed roll call.

The Hall-of-Fame journalist produced a list of 135 top names in the sport, with Alex Anthopoulos, general manager of the Atlanta Braves, at first overall; followed by Phillies skipper Rob Thomson in second; and Josh Naylor – slugger with the Cleveland Guardians – in the third spot.

Here’s a look at where WCBL personalities landed on the Canadian Baseball Network list …

Always a Jet

Jim Kotkas knows the difference a good coach can make.

And after witnessing such people first-hand as a player, he became one.

The Bash Brothers

After growing up in BC, Carlin and Cardel Dick have forged similar paths in baseball.

After spending time at Vauxhall Academy of Baseball, they are now part of the Canadian contingent at Division 1 schools stateside.

Bulls at the Gate

It was a bullish move that transformed the baseball scene in Western Canada.

The creation of a Saskatchewan Major Baseball League (SMBL) franchise in Lethbridge was initially intended to fill the void left by the departure of professional baseball.

Decades later, the legacy of that team can be seen at ballparks across Alberta and throughout the Western Canadian Baseball League (WCBL).

Palmegiani Rises Up Jays’ Ranks

Coming off a strong 2022 season split between two minor league affiliates, Damiano Palmegiani was determined to continue moving up the Toronto Blue Jays’ minor league depth charts.

The Vauxhall Academy of Baseball product is doing that with another strong season with the Double-A New Hampshire Fishercats.

PBA Night to Remember

It was a February night to remember for the Prairie Baseball Academy.

Not only were they able to finally hold their first full pre-season banquet and awards night since the pandemic, but they were also able to induct three new members of their Hall of Fame.

Above all that, coach Todd Hubka announced they were getting a $500,000 donation to improve their facilities.

Call to the Penner

If you would have told Ty Penner in high school or even early in his college baseball career that he would one day sign a contract with a Major League baseball team, he would have wanted to believe you.

But he admits, he doesn’t know if every bone in his body would have it was possible.

The Vauxhall Academy and UBC Thunderbird grad is still flying high after signing a free agent deal with the Philadelphia Phillies, leading to a whirlwind past few months.